Molded plastic actuator-cap for aerosol containers



Nov. 17, 1964 w. R ODONNELL 3,157,321

7 MOLDED PLASTIC ACTUATOR-CAP FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Filed April 26, 1962 ay. Fly. 4

INVENTOR. o n n 81 1 United States Patent 3,157,321 MULDED PLASTlQ ATUATOR-CAP FGR AERGSGL CQNEAIPJERS William R. Gllonnell, Trumbull, Conn, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to American Home Products Corporation, New Yorir, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 26, E62, Ser. No. 196,467 (Ilairns. (Cl. 222-394) This invention relates to hand-held aerosol devices of the type employing pressurized containers, and more particularly to molded actuator-cap structures of such devices.

The invention especially concerns improvements in the aerosol cap construction described and claimed in my copending patent application Serial Number 177,624 filed March 5, 1962 and entitled Molded Plastic Actuator- Cap for Aerosol Containers.

In this prior filed application there is disclosed a combination cap and actuator button, the latter being slidable in and guided by the cap, wherein upper and lower inward projecting portions of the cap (which serve important detent functions in connection with the button and the container) are vertically offset from each other to facilitate the cap molding operation. With this prior construction the insertion of the button in the cap body and the removal of the button (if this latter should be necessary for any reason) depends on some degree of yieldability and distortion of the body, due to clearances being not wholly provided for. I

In accordance with the present invention, in a cap of the above kind dependence is not had on yieldability or distortion of the structures for effecting insertion or removal of the actuator button but instead such action may be freely carried out because of a special configuration employed for the button whereby full clearances are provided. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved and novel plastic cap construction of the identified kind, wherein ready and easy insertion of the actuator button in the cap body is possible without requiring yieldability of the parts, thus eliminating certain restrictions as regards the types of plastic substance which may be used in the molding process.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cap construction as above set forth, wherein simple and economical guide means are combined with the easy insertion feature of the cap construction, to effectively maintain a given orientation of the actuator button in the cap body for all operative positions of the button.

A feature of the invention resides in the simplicity and economy of manufacture of the parts.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial, vertical, sectional view of the im proved aerosol cap construction of the invention, mounted on a pressurized container, shown partially in side elevation, as is shown in entirety the actuator button of the cap.

FIG. 2 is a top plan View of the cap construction of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section of the construction, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1. a

FIG. 4 is an axial, vertical section through the cap body portion of the cap construction with the actuator button omit-ted.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cap body of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a transverse (horizontal) section of the cap body, taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

animal ice Referring first to FIG. 1, the improved cap construction of the invention is shown as applied to a pressurized aerosol container 10 having an upper peripheral shoulder 12 provided by the conventionalcrimped sealing bead by which the side wall of the container is permanently attached to the upper end wall thereof. As is also now conventional, the upper end wall of container 10 is provided with a reduced neck portion 14, the latter including an annular groove 16 bounded by a flat, downwardly facing shoulder surface 18. Within the aerosol container 10 and at the upper portion thereof there is carried a usual valve structure, details of which are not shown herein except for the depressible, vertically movable tubular valve stem 2%. As is customary, pressing downward on the valve stem 29 results in a discharge of the aerosol substance through the usual central bore thereof (not shown), and when the downward pressure is removed from the stem the resultant upward movement closes the inside valve to shut off the discharge.

The actuator and cap construction comprises a relatively large, tubular cap body which is designated generally by the numeral 24, as seen in FIGS. 4 and S. The cap body 24 is of molded plastic, being fabricated as a single piece, and may be advantageously constituted of polyethylene or like formulations. The body 24 is shown as having a cylindrical wall 26 terminating, at the lower portion of the body, in a circular supporting edge 28.

As seen in FIG. 1, the supporting edge 28 is adapted to rest on the lowermost annular region of the reduced neck portion 14 and in abutment with the interior surface of the peripheral shoulder portion 12 of the pressurized container ill, thereby to provide a stable mounting or base for the cap construction. 7

For the purpose of sturdily supporting and retaining the cap body 24 on the container 10, the said body is provided with an inwardly extending detent flange 30 in its lower portion, said detent flange being disposed circularly and extending through an arc of more than 180, as shown in FIG. 5.

As seen in FIG. 1, the detent flange 30 is accommodated in the annular groove 16 of the container neck 14, under the flat shoulder 18. In the mounting of the cap on the container, the body 24 is merely forced downward on the container top to cause the detent flange 38' to be sprung over the top lip 34 of the container neck, whereupon the flange 30 will snap into the groove 16 and securely lock the cap body in place. The body 24 is positioned by engagement of the bottom circular edge 28 thereof with the shoulder portion 12 and the lowermost annular surface region of the reduced neck portion 14 of the container, as referred to hereinbefore.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the straight edges 46) of the inclined ledge 36 are disposed substantially vertically above the straight edges or ends 42 of the detent flange 39. By such construction the cap body 24 may be economically molded in simple mold cavities,

from which it may be withdrawn without resorting to retractable cavity parts or the like.

Vertically slidablc in the cap body 24 is an actuator 3 button 44, said button being plug-like and having partially cylindrical side walls 45 and parallel, flat 'top and bottom surfaces 48 and 59 respectively. The actuator button 44 has a deep finger recess or notch 52, FIGS. 1 and 2, and the back wall portion of the cap body 24 is correspondingly cut away to provide a deep clearance notch 54, as best seen in FIG. 4, whereby the finger of the user may be accommodated comfortably to actuate or depress the button 44.

The actuator button has a hollow depending boss 56 which frictionally fits over and receives the upstanding valve stem 20 of container 10, thereby to frictionally retain the actuator button on said stem against inadvertent or accidental removal.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3, the actuator button has an orifice member 58 accommodated in a hollow lateral projection 60 which communicates with the hollow boss 56 via a passageway (not shown), for the purpose of providing a discharge channel for the aerosol substance at the time that the button 44 and the valve stem 20 attached therebeneath are depressed. The orifice member 58 occupies the notch 38 in the angular ledge 36 of the cap body, as will be understood.

In accordance with the present invention, the actuator button 44 is given a configuration such that it may be readily, quickly inserted in the top of the cap body 24 without requiring yieldability of the body or the button, nor distortion of any of these parts. To accomplish this, the actuator button 44 has a side surface 62 extending in a vertical plane and disposed to provide clearance for the angularly extending ledge 36, thereby to enable the button to be inserted in or withdrawn vertically from the top open end of cap body without interference. Further, in conjunction with such side surface 62, the cap body and actuator button are provided with cooperable guide means described hereinafter, by which the button 44 is oriented in the cap body and prevented from turning while at the same time it is guided in the desired vertical operating movement. The guide means comprise vertical ribs 64 on the inside surface of the cap body 24 and vertically extending shoulders 66 formed on the actuator button 44 at the oppositely disposed vertical edge junctures of the plane side surface 62 of button 44 with the cylindrical side wall 46 thereof. By the provision of the ribs 64 and cooperable shoulders 66, the button 44 is guided in the cap body 24 so as to have free vertical movement While being prevented from turning to any significant extent. With such construction there is always assured a correct alignment or registration of the orifice member 58 with the notch 38 in the ledge 36. Also, the side surface 62, which constitutes a flat on the side of the actuator button 44, is always properly positioned to enable removal of the button from the cap body to be etfected if a circumstance should arise which would require this.

It will now be understood, as is clearly disclosed in FIG. 1, that the actuator button 44 may be shifted vertically upward out of the cap body 24 without interference from the latter in the least. The actuator button 44, is however, securely retained in its operative position shown in FIG. 1 by the frictional fit provided between the hollow boss 56 of the button and the valve stem 20 of the container 10. When the button 44 is depressed to effect discharge of aerosol substance, the orifice member 58 will be withdrawn mostly out of the clearance notch 33 provided in the ledge 36. However, due to the guiding action of the vertical ribs 64, the button 44 cannot turn ,to any significant extent, whereby the registration of the orifice member 58 with the notch 38 will always be maintained, enabling the button to be again fully raised to the valve closing position of FIG. 1 upon removal of the depressing force therefrom.

It will now be understood that I have provided, in accordance with the present invention, an improved and simplified valve actuator and cap construction for an aerosol device, wherein the assemblage of the actuator button to the cap body may be easily and quickly made without interference and without the necessity for molding these parts of yieldable plastic substance. Complete clearance is had between the button and the cap body to permit free insertion and withdrawal of the button. At the same time, these parts may be economically molded in simple cavities, without requiring retractable mold parts or the like. The construction is seen to be extremely simple, and to permit of economical fabrication.

The construction is such, also, that the actuator button 4-4 may be easily depressed by one finger while the container is held in the hand, and the direction of issuance of the aerosol substance cannot be mistaken, even by a person relatively unfamiliar with aerosol devices.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. An actuator-cap for aerosol containers, said actuatorcap comprising, in combination:

(A) a molded, one-piece tubular cap body having a cylindrical vertically disposed side wall and open bottom and top ends,

(1) a ledge extending upwardly and inwardly from the upper region of said side wall at a location disposed at one side of the axis of said body, 7

said ledge having a medial slot therein opening out at the distal edge of said ledge,

(2) an inwardly extending detent flange disposed at a location on the opposite side of the axis of said body and in the lower region thereof,

said detent flange being disposed circularly within said body and being offset vertically with respect to said ledge thereby to enable said cap body to be readily molded in simple cavities without requiring retractable cavity parts;

(B) a valve actuator button vertically movable in said cap body and having a vertically disposed side wall comprising:

(i) a curvilinear portion which defines a partial cylinder having a diameter substantially equal 7 to the interior surface diameter of said cap body and (2) a flat surface portion extending in a vertical plane located to provide clearance for said ledge,

thereby to enable said button to be inserted or withdrawn vertically from the open top of said cap body without interference,

1 (3) channel means extending through said actuator button from the bottom of said button to said flat surface thereof, said channel means being provided (a) at said flat surface and laterally medially of the latter, with orifice means adapted for ejection of a fluid spray and (b) at said bottom, with connector means adapted to connect with the valve stem of the aerosol container with which said cap and said button are to be operatively associated; and

(C) cooperable guide means provided on said cap body, on said interior surface thereof in the upper region thereof, and on said button, on said side wall thereof, for guiding said button vertically in said cap with i) said curvilinear portion of said side wall thereof in sliding abutment with said interior surface of said body,

(2) said flat surface of said button offset from said distal. edge of said ledge on said body, and

(3) said orifice means in alignment with the slot in said ledge,

during all vertically sliding movement and positioning of said button in said body.

2. An actuator-cap claimed in claim 1 wherein said cooperable guide means comprise vertical ribs on said interior surface of said body, and vertical shoulders on said button, arranged to engage said ribs.

3. An actuator-cap for aerosol containers, said actuatorcap comprising, in combination:

(A) a molded, one-piece plastic tubular cap body having a cylindrical vertically disposed thin side wall and open bottom and top ends,

(1) a short ledge extending upwardly and inwardly from the uppermost edge of said side wall at a location disposed at one side of the axis of said body,

said ledge having a medial slot therein opening out at the distal edge of said ledge,

(2) an inwardly extending detent flange disposed horizontally at a location on the opposite side of the axis of said body and in the lower region thereof,

said detent flange being disposed circularly and extending within said body for more than 180 on the interior surface of said side wall and being offset vertically with respect to said ledge thereby to enable the said cap body to be readily molded in simple cavities without requiring retractable cavity parts;

(B) a massive plastic valve actuator button vertically movable in said cap body and having a vertically disposed side wall comprising:

(1) a curvilinear portion which defines a partial cylinder having a diameter substantially equal to the interior surface diameter of said thin side wall, and

(2) a flat surface portion extending in a vertical plane located to provide close clearance for said ledge thereby to enable said button to be inserted or withdrawn vertically from the open top of said cap body without interference,

(3) channel means extending through said actuator button from the bottom of said button axially of said curvilinear portion of said side wall to said flat surface thereof, said channel means being provided (a) at said fiat surface and laterally medially of the latter, with a short nozzle inclined upwardly from said fiat surface and adapted for ejection of a fluid spray and (b) at said bottom, with connector means adapted to connect with the valve stem of the aerosol container with which said cap and said button are to be operatively associated,

(C) cooperable ribs on said cap body, on said interior surface thereof in the upper region thereof, and shoulders on said button, on said side wall thereof, at the junctures of said flat surface with said curvilinear surface, for guiding said button vertically in said cap with s (1) said curvilinear portion of said side wall thereof in sliding abutment with said interior surface of said body, (2) said flat surface of said button oifset from said distal edge of said ledge on said body, and (3) said nozzle in alignment With the slot in said ledge and always within the front portion of said cylindrical side wall of said cap,

during all vertically sliding movement and positioning of said button in said body.

4. An actuator-cap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said distal edge of said ledge, the terminal edges of said circularly disposed detent, said ribs, said shoulders and said flat sufa ce of said button are all disposed in substantially the same vertical plane.

5. An actuator-cap as claimed in claim 4 wherein said massive button has, in the top surface thereof, a deep finger depression extending to the rear edge of said button, and the upper rear edge of said thin side wall of said cap body has a deep clearance notch therein, whereby the finger of the user may be accommodated comfortably to permit actuation of said button.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,658,714 Fooshee Nov. 10, 1953 2,752,006 Ayres June 25, 1956 3,006,510 Sagarin Oct. 31, 1961 3,012,555 Meshberg Dec. 12, 1961 3,075,709 Green Jan. 29, 1963 

1. AN ACTUATOR-CAP FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS, SAID ACTUATORCAP COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A MOLDED, ONE-PIECE TUBULAR CAP BODY HAVING A CYLINDRICAL VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIDE WALL AND OPEN BOTTOM AND TOP ENDS, (1) A LEDGE EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY FROM THE UPPER REGION OF SAID SIDE WALL AT A LOCATION DISPOSED AT ONE SIDE OF THE AXIS OF SAID BODY, SAID LEDGE HAVING A MEDIAL SLOT THEREIN OPENING OUT AT THE DISTAL EDGE OF SAID LEDGE, (2) AN INWARDLY EXTENDING DETENT FLANGE DISPOSED AT A LOCATION ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE AXIS OF SAID BODY AND IN THE LOWER REGION THEREOF, SAID DETENT FLANGE BEING DISPOSED CIRCULARLY WITHIN SAID BODY AND BEING OFFSET VERTICALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID LEDGE THEREBY TO ENABLE SAID CAP BODY TO BE READILY MOLDED IN SIMPLE CAVITIES WITHOUT REQUIRING RETRACTABLE CAVITY PARTS; (B) A VALVE ACTUATOR BUTTON VERTICALLY MOVABLE IN SAID CAP BODY AND HAVING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIDE WALL COMPRISING; (1) A CURVILINEAR PORTION WHICH DEFINES A PARTIAL CYLINDER HAVING A DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE DIAMETER OF SAID CAP BODY AND (2) A FLAT SURFACE PORTION EXTENDING IN A VERTICAL PLANE LOCATED TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE FOR SAID LEDGE, THEREBY TO ENABLE SAID BUTTON TO BE INSERTED OR WITHDRAWN VERTICALLY FROM THE OPEN TOP OF SAID CAP BODY WITHOUT INTERFERENCE, (3) CHANNEL MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ACTUATOR BUTTON FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID BUTTOM TO SAID FLAT SURFACE THEREOF, SAID CHANNEL MEANS BEING PROVIDED (A) AT SAID FLAT SURFACE AND LATERALLY MEDIALLY OF THE LATTER, WITH ORIFICE MEANS ADAPTED FOR EJECTION OF A FLUID SPRAY AND (B) AT SAID BOTTOM, WITH CONNECTOR MEANS ADAPTED TO CONNECT WITH THE VALUE STEM OF THE AEROSOL CONTAINER WITH WHICH SAID CAP AND SAID BUTTON ARE TO BE OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED; AND (C) COOPERABLE GUIDE MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID CAP BODY, ON SAID INTERIOR SURFACE THEREOF IN THE UPPER REGION THEREOF, AND ON SAID BUTTON, ON SAID SIDE WALL THEREOF, FOR GUIDING SAID BUTTON VERTICALLY IN SAID CAP WITH (1) SAID CURVILINEAR PORTION OF SAID SIDE WALL THEREOF IN SLIDING ABUTMENT WITH SAID INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID BODY, (2) SAID FLAT SURFACE OF SAID BUTTON OFFSET FROM SAID DISTAL EDGE OF SAID LEDGE ON SAID BODY, AND (3) SAID ORIFICE MEANS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SLOT IN SAID LEDGE, DURING ALL VERTICALLY SLIDING MOVEMENT AND POSITIONING OF SAID BUTTON IN SAID BODY. 